Myth Reading Group 1 December: Amaterasu

The Myth Reading Group will meet on ‘Zoom’ on Thursday 1 December 2022, 5:30-6:30 pm (UK time). The link to join is in the comments for this post. All are welcome.

The theme for the Autumn Term is ‘Beauty’.

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III), ‘Origin of Iwato Kagura Dance’ (triptych, woodblock print, 1856) [Public domain]

Amaterasu (Ama-terasu-opo-mi-kamï: ‘Heaven-illuminating great deity’) is a heavenly goddess associated with the sun. Her story is told in two Japanese texts of the eighth century CE: Kojiki (‘The Record of Ancient Things’) and Nihonshoki (‘The Chronicles of Japan’). The tale relates Amaterasu’s encounter with her belligerent brother, Susanowo (Take-Paya-susa-nö-wo-nö-mikötö: ‘Valiant intrepid raging male lord’), who has associations with the sea, storms, the underworld, and can be regarded as both trickster and culture hero. Susanowo’s raging leads to Amaterasu shutting herself away in a cave, thus depriving the world of the light of the sun.

Modern versions and interpretations of the myth suggest that Amaterasu only emerges from the cave when she recognises her own beauty. But is this an over-interpretation of the ancient tale?

Text:

• Kojiki, trans. Donald L. Philippi (Princeton University Press & University of Tokyo Press, 1969): Chapters 14-17

Supplementary reading:

• The version of Amaterasu’s story from Nihonshoki (also called Nihongi), ‘The Chronicles of Japan’ (8th century CE)
• Brief account and interpretation from Joshua Frydman, The Japanese Myths: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes and Spirits (Thames & Hudson, 2022), pp. 37-38